Who Here Has Ever Been To a MEGA 4th Celebration?

[Virgo10]

You know like Boston with the Pops, Disney, Washington, DC or New York.

I've been to the celebration in Boston several times. The best of those was the 1999 one. A group of internet friends and I went in to Boston for the day and had a blast. That night we got to see the single best fireworks display I've ever seen.

Last year I went to WDW to see the MK fireworks. Unfortunately they were very lame. 8 minutes of fireworks on the 4th... AT DISNEY. Sheesh.

I have to mention the most consistently good fireworks I ever saw were in Plymouth, MA. There was a park we use to go to and they shot the fireworks off only about 300 feet away. You had to lay down to see them because they were right over head! Every year we said they could not get better. Then the next year they DID get better. The finale was always several minutes of nothing but bombs. Man, your head would be buzzing by the time that was over.

So anyone else seen fireworks that really stood out and you'll never forget?

 

[WDWLVR]

I went to the 3rd of July Taste of Chicago many years ago. The taste is a huge food fest held on the lakefront and the 3rd of July is the busiest night. That's when Chicago does its fireworks. It was wall to wall people. While it was fun it was best to keep it as something done in my youth (I was in my 20's at the time) and I enjoyed watching those fireworks on tv last night.

 

[drgnfly30]

We went to NYC last year... went out on a Circle Line boat... disappointing to say the least.. they set the fireworks off in various parts of the area, on TV it looks great but we could only see one small portion of it & none of the music that they are choreographed to....

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I've really only been to local firework displays around town. I do love to watch Boston with the Pops and Washington at the Capital on TV every year.

 

[safetymom]

I have always wanted to see the fireworks and view the Capital show for years. I tell my kids every time they have a special that I will be there one year.

I did Epcot and Illuminations and the special 4th fireworks last year. They were awesome. I will be there again this year and taking some friends.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I've been to the Detroit freedom fest twice. It's held like in the last week of June , and both Detroit (USA ) and Windsor (Canada) celebrate their duel independence days. Pretty awesome!

 

[GeorgeG]

My fire department chartered a dinner cruise for the NYC millinium July 4th fireworks. We had an assigned spot in the Hudson River and had good views of the fireworks by the Statue of Liberty and near the George Washington Bridge. We clould also see most of the fireworks in the East River over the Manhattan skyline. In the distance we could see other displays in New Jersey.

I think the most memorable July 4th fireworks for me, though, was in Subic Bay, The Phillipines in 1966. My buddie and I watched from the catwalk of our aircraft carrier while the fireworks were shot from a barge in the bay. It's funny how little things stick in your memory.. I remember eating M&Ms while watching those fireworks.

Have a great 4th and stay safe!

 

[monkeyboy]

1976 Operation Sail NYC

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

DH and I have been to the fireworks in D.C.

They were amazing!!

Not only the fireworks but the atmosphere as well.

 

[golfgal]

Taste of Minnesota, on the State Capital grounds in St. Paul, the fireworks were set to music played by the Minnesota Orchestra. Very Cool!

 

[escape]

Last year I went to WDW to see the MK fireworks. Unfortunately they were very lame. 8 minutes of fireworks on the 4th... AT DISNEY. Sheesh.

So anyone else seen fireworks that really stood out and you'll never forget?

When I worked at Disney in the early 80's the fireworks at the MK were amazing on the 4th - probably the best of the year.

As for more recent years, I was in NYC for the fireworks a couple of years ago and all I can say is - AMAZING! - the best I've ever seen. I would love to go to Boston sometime - and maybe Plymouth....after your reviews.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We're going downtown DC today (wish us luck!)

We *may* catch some of the parade--have 2:30 ressies at Old Ebbitt Grille and contemplating early on whether to ditch downtown for something less crowded--or brave it and continue.

I'm hoping we stick it out!

 

[Kitty 34]

I was at the Taste of Chicago's 4th of July celebration back in '86.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

We did Ohana's two years ago for the fourth to get the whole view of the MK fireworks as well as the lightparade and side fireworks. We loved it and it was very moving with the patriotic music and all.

 

[amid chaos]

1976 Operation Sail NYC

I was with Monkeyboy in NYC. A fantastic day from beginning to end.

 

[Virgo10]

I would love to go to Boston sometime - and maybe Plymouth....after your reviews.

Boston can be a nightmare. We finally started sitting on the Cambridge side of the Charles river. Trying to get any where near the Esplanade (where the Pop's concert is) can be very difficult. If you do get over there, your chances of seeing the fireworks are slim to none because of all the trees.

Up until 2 years ago the city put enormous TV screens on the Cambridge side so the people over there could watch the show. They stopped in 2003 or 4 because of money problems. The fireworks, however, are right in front of you. Very, very cool!

Sad to say that the Plymouth show is just a shadow of its former self. I forget which year this happened, maybe 2000, but that was the last year they shot them off from the park I mentioned. For the first time, due to a sea breeze, parts of the fireworks started raining down on people at that park. We're talking about stuff that was burning! That was the only time I was more interested in what was coming down that what was going up.

The town decided that it was too dangerous and after that they moved the explosives to a barge out in Plymouth harbor. It was never the same! What was cool was the concert at the harbor. The Plymouth Symphony did a Pop's like show and even ended it with the 1812 Overture complete with the firing of cannons.

I'm not going any where this year but, because fireworks are legal down here, I should get to see a good display without even leaving the neighborhood.

 

[OhMari]

Nope, just our local fireman's display. I always wanted to do Washington DC.

 

[Spoodleink]

We have done DC from the Mall which is crazy. N ow we just watch them from Key bridge in Georgetown.

 

[airhead]

...the 4th at WDW!!! We spent the day at discovery Cove(awesome!) and night at Epcot! what a vacation! Hope to do it again some day soon.

 

[vegasnative]

We spent 4th of July in 2003 in Washington D.C. Besides the extreme humidity and me being pregnant trying to walk around in it, it was GREAT!! We rode the Metro everywhere and visited all the monuments. We saw the ceremony for the unamed soldier at Arlington, that was very moving. I wish we could have taken the Duck tour, but we got to the line to late they were already sold out for the day we wanted to go. The night of the 4th we sat right on the lawn of the Mall with thousands and thousands of other people and saw the best fireworks display EVER!!!!!!! I really want to go again when my kids get older, but I think I might wait for later in the year when it is not so humid!! That was very unbearable for me.